APICIUS

apicius, the name of three celebrated roman epicures. the second of these, m. gavius apicius, who lived under tiberius, is the most famous (seneca, consol. ad helviam, 10). he invented various cakes and sauces, and is said to have written on cookery. the extant _de re coquinaria_ (ed. schuch, 1874), a collection of receipts, ascribed to one caelius apicius, is founded on greek originals, and belongs to the 3rd century a.d. it is probable that the real title was caelii _apicius_, apicius being the name of the work (cp. taciti _agricola_), and _de re coquinaria_ a sub-title. apiculture (from lat. _apis_, a bee), bee-keeping (see bee). so also other compounds of _api_-. _apiarium_ or apiary, a bee-house or hive, is used figuratively by old writers for a place of industry, e.g. a college.